Handball: DHB ladies on track for the Olympics – Coach: “Everyone under pressure” | EUROtoday

After the robust begin to the Olympic qualification, Germany's handball gamers had been cheering in one another's arms as in the event that they already had the ticket to Paris of their pockets. With a brave efficiency within the 31:25 (17:14) win in opposition to Slovenia, nationwide coach Markus Gaugisch's group set course for his or her first Olympic participation since Beijing 2008 in Neu-Ulm.

“We did it today with a lot of self-understanding and self-confidence. We were all under pressure because we really want to go Olympia», said the national coach. “Going into the tournament with a six-goal win gives a lot of security,” added DHB sports activities director Axel Kromer confidently.

The greatest German thrower in entrance of 4,026 spectators was backcourt participant Julia Maidhof with 9 objectives in opposition to Slovenia. The subsequent opponent of the DHB choice is the European Championship third place Montenegro. “On Saturday we have to go one step further,” stated co-captain Alina Grijseels.

With one other win, the DHB choice could make the journey to the summer season video games excellent. On Sunday we face outsiders Paraguay. In order to safe a ticket to the Olympics, the German group should no less than end second within the match. “We have come one step closer to our dream of Paris,” stated left winger Antje Döll after the opening win.

Good information earlier than kick-off

Even earlier than kick-off there was excellent news for the DHB choice. Grijseels reported match on time only a week after struggling an ankle harm within the European Championship qualifier in opposition to Ukraine. The French legionnaire needed to get going immediately within the fast-paced opening part as a result of Emily Bölk and Xenia Smits, who had been within the backcourt, acquired time penalties early on.

The DHB group began powerfully and led by three objectives for the primary time at 6:3 after an excellent ten minutes. However, a number of lapses in focus allowed the Slovenians to equalize inside a couple of minutes.

Goalkeeper Filter shines with quite a few saves

However, the sixth place within the World Cup was not impressed by this and continued to behave purposefully in assault. The reward was a renewed three-goal lead (11:8), which was prolonged to 5 objectives 4 minutes earlier than the break. Goalkeeper Katharina Filter performed a significant function on this, giving the German group the safety they wanted with quite a few saves.

After the change, each groups began nervously and made quite a lot of errors. The hosts' lead remained fixed at three to 4 objectives. In addition to Maidhof, backcourt ace Smits and left winger Johanna Stockschläder had been notably convincing within the assault, who, after a primary failed try, put all of her following 4 throws into the objective.

In the ultimate part, the German group pulled forward once more and was forward objective by objective. Filter continued to offer robust assist between the posts, and the assaults had been largely accomplished in a concentrated method on the entrance. Success within the duel with the Slovenians was not in peril. The nationwide coach spoke of a profitable begin. And Smits, who contributed six objectives to the win, stated with aid: “We didn’t expect us to solve it so confidently.”

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